It doesn’t seem that long ago that Fauna Shade released their three-track EP and took second place at EMP’s Sound Off! 2014 competition.
Now the Everett band is about to turn heads with the release of their debut full-length album, “Baton Rouge.”
Fronted by Everett’s Scotty Smith with Richie Owen on drums and Derek Johnston on bass, Fauna Shade recently went into Swoon studios in Tacoma. They used psychedelic guitar riffs, sudden tempo changes and excellent songwriting to craft an album that is going to be on a lot of “Best of 2015” lists — and not just in Seattle.
Smith plays guitar but his voice is an instrument in itself. When you see Fauna Shade live and Smith starts singing you quickly have to pick your jaw off the floor. The sound Smith, 22, creates with his vocals is unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Smith and the band took that sound into the studio with them and the finished product is already getting attention.
Two weeks ago Consequence of Sound (a national music media outlet) released the album’s first single, “Marzipan,” calling Smith’s voice “the most fetching aspect of the track.”
“Baton Rouge” takes early punk vibes on a trippy magic carpet ride through the cosmos and when you think you have it figured out, the track “Delirium” keeps you guessing with a surprise saxophone solo courtesy of Andrew Vait, of the band Sisters.
“Baton Rouge” will be released on April 28 and Fauna Shade will perform at a record-release party May 1 at The Sunset Tavern in Ballard. Catch Fauna Shade at the Fisherman’s Village Music Festival in Everett May 15 through 17.
Live show
Everett band Fauna Shade will hold a record-release show for its first full-length album, “Baton Rouge,” at 8 p.m. May 1 at The Sunset Tavern in Ballard.
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